Brain mural cell loss in the parietal cortex in Alzheimer's disease correlates with cognitive decline and TDP-43 pathology.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Brain mural cells (BMC), smooth muscle cells and pericytes, interact closely with endothelial cells and modulate numerous cerebrovascular functions. A loss of BMC function is suspected to play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Methods

BMC markers, namely smooth muscle alpha actin (α-SMA) for smooth muscle cells, as well as platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) and aminopeptidase N (ANPEP or CD13) for pericytes, were assessed by Western immunoblotting in microvessel extracts from the parietal cortex of 60 participants of the Religious Orders study, with ages at death ranging from 75 to 98 years old.

Results

Participants clinically diagnosed with AD had lower vascular levels of α-SMA, PDGFRβ and CD13. These reductions were corr

SUBMITTER: Bourassa P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7739958 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature